Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has vowed never to recognize Kosovo after refusing to sign an EU-backed deal to normalize relations between the two former foes.

And the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo met in Brussels last Monday, after intense pressure from the European Union, to agree on a plan that sets out the framework for possible normalization of relations and the "effective recognition" of Kosovo by Serbia.

Despite reassurances from European officials about the green light from both sides for a preliminary agreement, the talks did not lead to a conclusion as Pristina and Belgrade took responsibility for the stalemate and stressed that many points remain outstanding.

And the Serbian president turned to public opinion on Tuesday night by declaring that he would never recognize Kosovo and had no intention of helping the region join the United Nations.

"As long as I am president, I will not sign or accept formal or informal recognition of Kosovo or its accession to the United Nations," he said in a statement broadcast by Serbian television.

Aleksandar Vucic announced that he was ready to discuss other issues, but only if Kosovo agreed to create a Federation of Serb-majority municipalities that would give Kosovo Serbs some form of autonomy.

"I am open to everything else, not only because it will help us move forward on the European path, but also because it is beneficial for relations between Serbs and Albanians," he said.


Recognition is a condition of any agreement

But Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti believes that any agreement must stipulate recognition in one way or another of Kosovo's independence.

Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo, which is predominantly Albanian and declared its independence from it in 2008.

A new meeting of the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo, sponsored by the European Union, is scheduled for March 18 in North Macedonia.

The issue of Kosovo continues to occupy the attention of about 6.7 million Serbs, who consider this region the national and religious cradle of their country.

Many members of the Serb minority in Kosovo (they number 120,000) refuse to declare their allegiance to Pristina with encouragement from Belgrade, especially in northern Kosovo near the border with Serbia, which witnesses frequent clashes, demonstrations and sometimes violence.